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Lunch at the Windseeker Restaurant The Dalles, OR – week of 7 18 2005
Written by Gabby

The Windseeker Restaurant is one of only 2 establishments in The Dalles that offers its guests a direct view of the Columbia River. The dining deck is literally a matter of a few yards from the river, making it a great choice for lunch on a nice day.

Local barges often moor their peripherals nearby and pass by very close to the restaurant itself. When the Riverboats come by at night with their lights on, it is absolutely spectacular! But we’ll discuss the dinners at the Windseeker in the future.

The Windseeker Restaurant also features beautiful gardens, pathways, and fountains, and a real living mascot – a seagull that makes its home there known to employees and visitors alike as “Oscar”. Oscar is a friendly bird who several times a day can be seen landing on the handrail of the outside dining deck, walking up to the side of the building, and will peck on the window near the waitress station in the main dining hall. The staff will typically bring him out a few fries from the kitchen for him and he gobbles them up. It’s a cute thing to watch for sure, and he returns the favor by keeping all of the other seagulls away from the outside dining area.

As a restaurant that is favored for its prime rib dinners, The Windseeker has a good example of a thoughtful lunch menu that includes creative uses for left over prime rib, all of which are very tasty. The soups, beef based and otherwise, are usually very good and the salads are complimented by their dressings, all of which are made in-house.

Having eaten there several times in recent weeks, I would have to say that their best lunch value is the “Riverbank Special”. It includes ½ a sandwich of the day, a cup of their soup of the day, a small salad, and a slice of pie. It makes for a good inexpensive lunch with a variety of flavors that is served quickly for those who are on their lunch hour.

The atmosphere inside is pleasant, and the service is prompt and friendly. If you take pictures, I would recommend bringing your camera with you and getting a picture of Oscar, perhaps the garden areas, and certainly the close-up view of the Columbia River.

RATINGS FOR LUNCH AT THE WINDSEEKER – THE DALLES 2 nd WEEK IN JULY 2005 (based on a 5 star system)

Atmosphere 3 stars
Food Quality 3 stars
Service 3 stars

High Points The View of the River, Photo Opportunities, Lunch Prices, Oscar

Low points None to speak of, really.